Polar M430 HR Watch

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Train smarter.

Make sure you're getting the most out of your workouts with the help of the Polar M430 HR Watch. This advanced watch offers a triple threat of chest strap-free optical heart rate technology, advanced GPS, and state-of-the-art running metrics. Whether you're training for a race or just trying to improve your running regime, this watch is just the ticket.

Using six LED optical sensors and Polar's proprietary heart rate algorithm, the M430 HR frees you from pesky chest straps without compromising your heart rate data. It also harnesses the latest in GPS and accelerometer technology to track your speed, distance, and pace, whether you're inside or outdoors. It's also suitable for swimming, so you can use it for tri training, too. And since you shouldn't feel burdened when you're hitting your stride, Polar added a Performance wristband that offers a lighter, softer feel and superior breathability.

Perhaps the most intriguing aspects of the M430 HR is its Smart Coaching features. Among the many, many coaching features designed to help you improve performance and recovery are the Sleep Plus, which provides feedback to help you achieve the best night's sleep possible, a 5-Minute Fitness Test to establish baseline metrics, and a Running Program that lets you choose from 5K, 10K, half-marathon, and marathon targets. There are also features to help predict race time finishes, suggest required recovery times, and keep track of calories burned. Best of all, this data can be uploaded to your phone via Bluetooth and monitored via the Polar Flow app.

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A watch that goes to 11

I was given this product from Backcountry, but this review is my personal opinion.

To borrow from Spinal Tap, the Polar M430 watch is a watch that goes to 11. Why doesn't it just go to 10? It would make my minimal tech/patience combo happier.

Uses: For the right person, this watch would be magic. There is a Flow app that you put on your phone before you begin using the watch. You build a profile where you can select various sports and training programs to go along with them. I added cycling, cross training (closest thing to use for Mountain Athlete program), skiing and hiking. I ended up using it for Mountain Athlete workouts and hiking. For some reason during the hiking program, it kept resetting itself and took a while to actually locate a GPS signal...could be a Montana specific issue? It did not really help in time/distance training when it just kept resetting itself. And I could not access the app since I was hiking and don't bring my phone.

For a runner...a sport I just refuse to do...this seems like an amazing watch. You can set goals, training programs and HR zones and manage them all along the way. The battery life is great in comparison with my Apple watch that seems like it spends more time plugged into a wall than actually on my wrist. The band is also really flexible and goes on easily. I found that on my small wrist, it was often difficult to really cinch down the watch to the point that it could accurately measure HR and still be comfortable.

Aesthetics: It is a really large face on a small wrist. Additionally, because I am a detail oriented person, there is a red line that outlines the watch face where it meets the bezel. It does not show up in the product photos. I favor the circular bezel patterns of some of the Garmin watches and even some of the other Polar models. This one has sort of a vintage Casio calculator watch vibe to it.

No sitting allowed: The Polar M430 seems to favor running over cycling. While using it for cycling during my daily commute, it shows the user as sitting down or inactive on the activity icon. Probably not really a deal breaker, but you are still moving during cycling even though by all strict technicalities, you happen to be seated.

Overall, this would be a wonderful watch for someone working towards a specific fitness goal who does not get overwhelmed by managing a bunch of tech. No longer do you need a chest strap. Set a goal and get to work.

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Top watch under $300

Familiarity: I've put it through the wringer

The Good and Great: - The watch is easy to use and the screen though basic, is all you really need. - The 24/7 HR has been implemented and works great. -The app is now super awesome and works consistently, try deleting and re-installing if it's not synching - Training programs are the bomb! I am working through the 5k program (even though I basically run one each session...) and I like having structured work outs. As you HR max changes, so does your training. -EXCELLENT PRICE

The Ugly: - It tells me how little I move at work... - V02 Max estimation is not really that usefull - Needs lots of real numbers from fancy tests to really produce epic results on training schedhules - 6 LED HR uses more battery, but this is minor since I think it's better.